Method and apparatus for displaying textual or graphic data on the screen of television receivers

ABSTRACT

A local language is pre-stored in permanent memory. Equivalent data is transmitted in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) to television receivers. Each equivalent data set comprises a unique language identifier and a foreign language translation of, or graphical representative of, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory. The viewer selects the language to be displayed from an on screen menu with a remote controller. The selected equivalent data is retrieved from the VBI and stored in a RAM for future display. When the microprocessor calls up the text of a command for display, the equivalent data is substituted for the local language data so the foreign language version of the command can be displayed in a seamless manner. If no equivalent data is in the RAM, the local language pre-stored in permanent memory is displayed on the television screen in accordance with the normal operation of the microprocessor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.09/029,013, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,885 filed Feb. 10, 1998, whichclaims the priority of international patent application No.PCT/US96/18236, filed Nov. 13, 1996 and the benefit of provisionalpatent application No. 60/006,629, filed Nov. 13, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to displaying textual or graphic data on atelevision screen, and more particularly to a method and apparatus fordisplaying video cassette recorder (VCR) and/or television programmingor prompting commands in various languages.

VCRs generally come equipped with programming commands pre-stored in theVCR's permanent memory in a local language format, which are laterdisplayed on a TV screen during programming operation. For instance,English would be the local language pre-stored in the VCR's permanentmemory for VCRs sold in the United States. However, if the televisionviewer programming the VCR does not read English, it can make thedifficult task of programming a VCR even that much more difficult.

To facilitate the process for the viewer, VCR commands will now bedisplayed in a variety of foreign languages. These foreign languagecommands, while not pre-stored in the VCR's permanent memory, will bebrought to the viewer across the television signal coming into theviewer's home. This invention eliminates the need to take a VCR back tothe manufacturer to have the VCR's permanent memory replaced each time adifferent language command set is desired. Television signals arecomposed of a program signal, the portion of the signal that transmitsthe TV picture, and a vertical blanking interval (VBI), the portion ofthe signal that stores various data types or messages. The VBI will beused to bring the foreign language VCR commands into the VCR and thenstored in the VCR's temporary memory. The viewer can then select theforeign language of choice from options displayed on the screen andthus, program the VCR in his or her native language.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, foreign language VCR and/or televisioncommands arc transmitted to the viewers home, in the VBI or via anothertransmission link. The foreign language commands are then stored in thetemporary memory for later use. Each set of foreign language commandsalso contains a unique language identifier used to create the menu ofoptions available to the viewer. For example, if Spanish, French, andChinese foreign language commands are available in the VBI, the viewermenu would display these languages as well as English on the TV screenfor the viewer to use to select his or her options.

During operation, the viewer uses the TV remote control to select thelanguage of his or her choice from the menu displayed on the televisionscreen. The language identifiers available are compared with a userinputted language identifier. The foreign language commandscorresponding to the user inputted language identifier are stored in thetemporary memory for display on the television screen. If no foreignlanguage command sets are stored, the local language pre-stored inpermanent memory will be displayed on the television screen.

Preferably, a microprocessor is programmed to seamlessly retrieve thecommands in the desired language for display on the television screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of a specific embodiment of the best mode contemplated ofcarrying out the invention are illustrated in the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a microprocessor controlledtelevision receiver and/or VCR programmed to practice the invention;

FIG. 2 is an diagram representing data transmitting in the VBI;

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing equivalent data that illustrate theoperation of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a television screen display of a menu for viewer selection ofthe language for the commands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The invention contemplates the transmission of foreign languagetranslations of a command set, called equivalent data, to be displayedon the screen of television receivers instead of a local languageversion of the command set. The command set can represent on-screenprompts to guide the viewer in programming a VCR or performing other VCRand/or television related tasks such as initial setup or sound orpicture adjustment. The transmitted equivalent data includes a pluralityof foreign language translations of, or graphical data representationsof, the local language and a plurality of language identifiers, eachbeing unique to one of the foreign language translations or graphicaldata representations. The invention is described below in conjunctionwith a cable television service, but it can also be used in a satelliteor broadcast television service.

A host program source and a source of equivalent data at the headend ofa television transmission system are coupled to a vertical blankinginterval (VBI) encoder to insert the equivalent data into the VBI of thetelevision signal. Alternatively, the equivalent data could betransmitted on a subcarrier of the television signal, a telephoneconnection, or by other known means for carrying data. Preferably, theequivalent data is repeated continuously all the time that the source issending out a television signal.

In FIG. 1, the television signal is brought into the viewer's home at acable subscriber drop 17. The television signal, which contains thetransmitted equivalent data, is coupled by a tuner and demodulator 19 toa VBI decoder 30. Decoder 30 strips from the television signal theequivalent data transmitted in the VBI, which is then fed to amicroprocessor 22. Microprocessor 22 includes temporary storage in theform of a RAM 18. The equivalent data is stored in RAM 18. The programsignal portion of the television signal is fed to a television screen21.

A remote controller 23 is coupled to microprocessor 22. typically by aninfrared transmission link. Microprocessor 22 accesses a system memory24 in which the local language version of the command set is stored.System memory 24 is typically a ROM or other nonalterable data storagedevice. Typically, the local language version of the command set isloaded into system memory 24 in the factory during the manufacturingprocess. Microprocessor 22 decides what data is to be displayed, eitherthe local language stored in system memory 24 or the equivalent datastored in RAM 18. The data to be displayed is composed by microprocessor22 in a video processor 26, in well known fashion. and then sent totelevision screen 21 for display.

FIG. 2 depicts equivalent data 32 carried in the VBI. A header field 34designates the beginning of the equivalent data and controls operationof decoder 30 with clock run in and framing code information. Followingheader field 34 are the foreign language translations or graphical datarepresentatives of the command set represented by encoded textual data36 a, 36 b, . . . , 36 n, each of which is preceded by a unique languageidentifier field 38 a, 38 b, . . . , 38 n, respectively. As describedbelow in more detail, the individual commands preferably each have anaddress that defines the location on screen where such command is to bedisplayed. The same address is thus used for a given command in eachlanguage. The language identifiers represent foreign language options,for example French, Spanish, Chinese, etc.

In operation, the viewer presses a set up key on remote controller 23 toinitiate a set up mode and then keys in his or her preference of foreignlanguage. Specifically. the viewer selects the foreign language from anon-screen menu shown in FIG. 4. The default selection marked with acursor 50 is the local language, e.g., English To select a differentlanguage the viewer moves cursor 50 by operating arrow keys oncontroller 23 and then depresses an enter key on controller 23. Thecorresponding language identifier is retrieved by microprocessor 22 forcomparison with the language identifiers trarnsmitted in the VBI. When amatch is detected by microprocessor 22, the corresponding languagetextual data is “grabbed” from the VBI and downloaded to RAM 18. Forexample, if the viewer wishes to select the Spanish language equivalentdata set, he or she moves cursor 50 and enters that choice into remotecontroller 23. In such case, microprocessor 22 displays the commands inthe selected language. If no equivalent data set is stored in RAM 18,i.e., if the viewer does not select a foreign language, microprocessor22 displays the local language version of the commands stored in systemmemory 24.

Although it is preferable to store only a single foreign languagecommand set in RAM 18 to minimize the amount of data storage, all, or atleast more than one, of the foreign language command sets could bedownloaded to RAM 18 and the selection of the desired foreign languagefor display could be made by the viewer after the data is downloaded.

In FIG. 3 there is one equivalent data set for each language identifier.For example, if the local language commands include “time, channel,hour. day,” the Spanish command set 44 includes “tiempo, canal, hora,dia,” and the French command set 46 includes “temps, chaine, heure,jour.” The individual commands of each set also have addresses todesignate where they are to be placed on the screen to create thedesired message. For example, command set 44 has addresses 44 a andcommands 44 b, e.g., “tiempo”, and command set 46 has addresses 46 a andcommands 46 b, e.g., “temps”. The same address is used for a givencommand, regardless of the language, e.g., “001” for tiempo and temps,because the address identifies the location of the command displayed onthe screen. The same addresses are also used for the local languagecommand set stored in system memory 24, i.e., “001” for temperature. Inother words, the address of each local language command in system memory24 is the same as the address of the corresponding foreign languagecommand in RAM 18.

Alternatively, a different address structure could be used for the locallanguage command set, so each television manufacturer could select itsown address structure. In this case, a table is downloaded to RAM 18 inthe VBI after the viewer keys in a identification code for h/herparticular television model and brand to relate the addresses of thenative language to the addresses of the foreign language.

Microprocessor 22 is programmed to operate seamlessly regardless of thelanguage selected by the viewer. A status bit is stored inmicroprocessor 22. The status bit is one value i.e., binary “1”, if aforeign language command set is downloaded to RAM 18, i.e., thedownloaded foreign language is to be displayed, and the status bit isthe other value, i.e., binary “0”, if no foreign language command sethas been selected, i.e., the local language is to be displayed. Whenmicroprocessor 22 makes a call for a command in the course of itsoperation, an address is issued to designate the screen location of thecommand. Microprocessor 22 checks the status bit to determine its value.If the status bit is a binary “1”, the address is routed to RAM 18 toretrieve the foreign language command to be displayed at the screenlocation designated by the address. (If a table is stored in RAM 18. theissued address is converted by reference to the table to an address thatdesignates the screen location at which the foreign language command isto be displayed.) If the status bit is a binary “0”, the address isrouted to system memory 24 to retrieve the local language command to bedisplayed at the screen location designated by the address.

Since not all television receivers come with a local language stored insystem memory 24, all of the equivalent data sets, including the locallanguage, can be transmitted and stored in microprocessor RAM 18. Inthis case. there is no default language choice and the viewer must makea choice from the menu of FIG. 4.

The described embodiments of the invention are only considered to bepreferred and illustrative of the inventive concept; the scope of theinvention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various andnumerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for displaying textual or graphic dataon a television receiver comprising: a memory device at the televisionreceiver in which data representing local language commands is stored; amicroprocessor electrically coupled to the memory device for displayingthe local language commands stored in the memory device on thetelevision receiver; a VBI decoder for extracting data from a VBI of atelevision signal, wherein the extracted data includes commands, in oneor more foreign languages, corresponding to the local language commands;and a storage device at the television receiver for storing theextracted data, wherein the microprocessor is configured to substitutethe commands in one or more foreign languages for the local languagecommands for displaying on the television receiver.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a status bit stored in the microprocessorfor indicating whether the local language commands or the commands inone or more foreign languages are to be displayed.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, further comprising means for changing the status bit by a user.4. The system of claim 1, wherein the extracted data includes uniquelanguage identifiers corresponding to the foreign language commands. 5.The system of claim 4, further comprising an input device fortransmitting a viewer's choice of the language identifiers to themicroprocessor.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the local languagecommands have addresses in the memory device that identify the locationon the television receiver where the commands are to be displayed andthe corresponding foreign language commands have the same addresses inthe storage device.
 7. The system of claim 1, in which the storagedevice is a RAM.
 8. The system of claim 1, in which the memory device isa ROM.
 9. A method for displaying textual or graphic data on televisionreceivers comprising the steps of: storing in a memory device at thetelevision receiver data representing local language commands;transmitting to a television receiver equivalent data in a VBI of atelevision signal, the equivalent data including a plurality oftranslations or graphical representatives, in one or more foreignlanguages, of the local language commands; storing the equivalent datain a storage device at the television receiver; and configuring amicroprocessor to substitute the equivalent data for the local languagecommands for displaying on the television receiver.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising the steps of: creating a language menuincluding a listing of the foreign languages; and displaying thelanguage menu on the screen.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising the steps of: choosing one of the transmitted foreignlanguages from the language menu at the television receiver; anddisplaying foreign language translation of the commands corresponding tothe chosen foreign language on the screen.
 12. The method of claim 9,further comprising the steps of: attaching to the transmitted equivalentdata a plurality of language identifiers, each being unique to one ofthe foreign language translations or graphical data representations;inputting a choice from among the language identifiers; comparing theinputted choice with the language identifiers attached to the equivalentdata; and displaying the equivalent data when a match occurs in thecomparing step.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step oftransmitting comprises inserting the equivalent data into the VBI oftelevision signal at a head end location.
 14. The method of claim 9,wherein the step of transmitting equivalent data also transmits thelocal language commands and a local language identifier.
 15. The methodof claim 9, further comprising the step of assigning addresses to thelocal language commands and the equivalent data indicating the locationon the television receiver where the commands are to be displayed. 16.The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of configuring themicroprocessor when a call is made to issue an address to designate ascreen location, retrieve the command responsive to a status bit and theissued address, and display the retrieved command.
 17. A method fordisplaying textual or graphic data on a screen of a television receivercomprising the steps of: storing in a local memory at the televisionreceiver a set of commands in a first language; receiving on asubcarrier of a television signal a set of the same commands in a secondlanguage; storing at the television receiver the received set ofcommands in a second language; selecting one of the sets of commands fordisplay on the screen; and configuring a microprocessor to display theselected set of commands on the screen of the television receiver. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving comprisesextracting from a VBI of a television signal a set of the same commandsin a second language.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising thesteps of: creating a language menu including a listing of the foreignlanguages; displaying the language menu on the screen; choosing one ofthe transmitted foreign languages from the language menu at thetelevision receiver; and displaying foreign language translation of thecommands corresponding to the chosen foreign language on the screen. 20.The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of configuring themicroprocessor when a call is made to issue an address to designate ascreen location, retrieve the command responsive to a status bit and theissued address, and display the retrieved command.